Display holder



March 28, 1967 R. SARKISIAN 3,310,901

DISPLAY HOLDER Filed June 15, 1965 jY INVENTOR',

SARKlSN ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,310,901 DISPLAY HOLDER Robert Sarkisian, 8644 Woodside Park Drive, Oak Park, Mich. 48237 Filed June 15, 1965, Ser. No. 464,073 21 Claims. c1. 40 s The present invention relates to an improved display holder for various types of replaceable posters or like advertising or other media, such as are comm-only employed on buses, street cars, taxicabs and related mobile installations, as well as on fixed mounts, for example, at service stations, on building walls, on posts and like accepted indoor or outdoor display places.

It is a general object of the invention, regardless of its particular setting in use, to provide a poster or like display unit which is of very simple and attractive construction, consisting basically of only a single pair of front and back frames, each preferably constituted by four sets of extruded metal parts, which extrusions have integral mating formations to pivot the same to one another, plus improved snap-over, cantilever action-type leaf springs to bias the front extrusion of the frame for releasable clamping engagement with a poster or similar display panel or sheet. Such coacting extrusion and biasing means constitute the sole means for hingedly articulating and springing the holder parts. That is, separate hinge pins, special spring connections or supports, and still other parts commonly associated with generally similar display holders, as heretofore proposed, are entirely dispensed with.

For example, in one type of holder presently in use, special angled spring elements are employed in association with individual hinge pins carried by a one-piece frame extrusion, with crank-type connections from the springs to the extrusion, and in this known holder a rigid backing board must be provided to anchor the springs for their snap-over clamping action, or other equivalent provision made.

Furthermore, in order to accommodate the springs, crank elements and binge pin components it is necessary to notch the extrusion deeply; and, all-in-all, the combination of parts, though functionally simple, is indeed structurally complex, being difficult and relatively expensive to assemble.

-In another type of display holder presently on the market, it is also necessary to employ a rigid backing board or panel and, in addition, an entire separate backing element which must be pre-welded at the time of delivery to the user, this pre-assembled backing extrusion being essential since it must laterally outwardly confine the pivotal extrusion parts and serve as an anchor for the springs to store and release their biasing energy. Consequently, this type of holder is rendered relatively expensive as to its parts and their assembly, as well as bulky to ship.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a snap-over type display holder which incorporates individual front extrusions and coacting back extrusions (which may each be either coextensive in length with or shorter than the front extrusions), plus leaf springs and corner connector braces, and may be shipped in an entirely knocked-down and compact condition, to be assembled on location. Thus, the extrusions may be exactly pre-cut to desired lengths, or may be trimmed by the user to afford components for display holders of varying sizes and shapes. In the final assembly, rigid L-brackets or braces are employed to mount the extrusions in a fixed, final and coplanar frame-defining relationship to one another. In accordance with the invention the extrusions have special formations coacting with the braces to this end.

3,3 i flfifll Patented Mar. 28, 1967 Another object is to provide a display holder of the type described which dispenses entirely with separate pivot pin and spring-energizing provisions, since mating extrusion pivots and spring anchoring means are integrally built int-o the design of the front and back extrusions.

In this connection, the back extruded pieces may be sectioned to afford formations to mount a rigid backing board, against which a display or poster sheet is then clamped by the front extrusion, or such backing board may be dispensed with, the snap-over front extrusions clamping the poster or like panel directly to a surface to which the back extrusions are secured, or possibly to those extrusions themselves.

More specifically in regard to the backing panel or board, the set of back extrusions may .be formed to provide inwardly opening, channel-defining flanges to receive the backing panel, but in any case (backing panel or not) they are extruded to provide pairs of mutually facing flange formations which are adapted to receive rigid, L-shaped corner braces. As taken up by screws, these braces or brackets clamp the back extrusions rigidly together in abutting relation to one another at the corners thereof, with the screws binding the corner brace parts upwardly against the last named extrusion flange formations. This action automatically aligns the back extrusions, hence the pairs of pivotally connected front and back extrusions, in coplanar relationship to one another.

Further in accordance with the invention, the coacting front and back extrusions and the leaf springs snap-biasing the same under cantilever action are designed and constructed, as to the extrusions, with integral curved, mating hinge formations assembled to one another upon a relative longitudinal sliding motion and, as to the springs, in a special cross section for coaction with the thus pivoted front and back extrusions.

Thus the springs, as engaged with the back extrusion at any desired point along the length of the hinged extrusion pair, is simply snapped past an integral projection on the front extrusion, and thereafter acts frictionally between the latter and the back extrusion to prevent slidable disengaging motion of the parts relative to one another. Of course, the springs in addition provide the necessary snap-over biasing force.

It follows that it is another object of the invention to provide a novel leaf spring designed to be assembled to a pivoted extrusion pair in the manner described in the preceding paragraph, and to perform the dual extrusion-gripping and snap-over functions also referred to. Pursuant to this aspect of the invention, the improved leaf spring has an elongated and mildly curved outline in transverse section, being engageable at one end edge with the abovementioned integral projection of the front extrusion, and adjacent its opposite end being contoured in a general S-shaped sectional outline. One relatively closed bight portion of this spring formation is adapted for preliminary placement against an integral projection on the back extrusion and the other, relatively open bight portion of the S-shape being adapted to swing over and around the last named back extrusion projection, as the opposite end of the spring is snapped past the projection on the front extrusion, in position to either hold that extrusion in a fully open, over-center position or in a fully closed, snap over-center position.

In reference to these open and closed positions of the front extrusion relative to the back extrusion, the two extrusions have integral rounded and mating hinging portions, plus stop means on the front extrusion to coact with the hinge formation of the back extrusion in limiting pivotal motion between the open and closed positions of the extrusion pair.

Generally, the invention affords an improved display holder incorporating one-piece front and back extruded parts having all of the built-in hinging provisions referred to above, enabling pre-formed extrusions to be shipped in knocked-down condition, for assembly on location to provide miter-abutted pairs defining the complete holder; and the invention also affords, for assembly on location in a novel manner with such extruded parts, special leaf spring components devised to greatly facilitate the assembly and to thereafter exercise the desired snap-over spring action in coaction with the extrusions.

The foregoing as well as other objects will become more apparent as this description proceeds, especially when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing illustrating the invention, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front view of an improved display holder in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary rear perspective view in enlarged scale showing pairs of miter-abutted and pivotally connected front and back extrusions, plus snap-over springs, the front extrusions being shown in an open position and one thereof being partially broken away to further illustrate the construction of each spring;

FIG. 3 is a view in further enlarged scale and transverse cross section on a line corresponding to line 3-3 of FIGS. 1 and 2, showing the holder in closed condition, and as locked in the assembled relationship of its component extrusions by improved corner connecting means, a rigid backing board associated with the holder being indicated in dot-dash line;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 3, but along line 4-4 of FIGS. 1 and 2, showing the front extrusion of the holder in an open position and indicating the mannor in which a snap-over, cantilever acting leaf spring is assembled to and between the extruded parts, and the holder being shown as connected to a wall or other surface;

FIG. 4A is a fragmentary view in section similar to FIGS. 3 and 4, but showing an alternative embodiment designed for use without a rectangular backing board such as is associated with the earlier form;

FIG. 5 is a view in section similar to FIG. 3 of an alternative embodiment of the improved holder, in which provision for mounting a coacting rigid back panel is omitted also, the holder being assembled directly to a wall or other surface; and

FIG. 6 is a front elevational view illustrating an adaptation of the holder structure, in which the back extrusion structure comprises a relatively short length extruded part, rather than full length elongate-d parts as contemplated by the other embodiments of the invention.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the improved holder of the invention, generally designated by the reference numeral 10, is made up of four extruded, pivoted holder units or assemblies 12 of desired length, mitered 45 at their opposite ends for abutting and coplanar assembly with one another to outline the frame-like holder. FIGS. 1 through 4 show the holder as being assembled in association with a rigid back board or panel 14 of Masonite, a suitable grade of corrugated paper stock or sheet material such as aluminum. As shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, each of the constituent extrusion uni-ts or assemblies 12 is generally constituted of a front or cover extrusion 1 6 of the full length of the unit, and a back extrusion 18. The latter is depicted as also being of full length in the embodiment of FIGS. 1-4, although it may be replaced by one or more individual extrusions of shorter length, as will be described. Referring to FIG. 4, the back extrusion may, if indicated by the particular installation, be secured by screws 19 to a wall or like supporting panel member 20.

The composition of the pivoted extrusion assembly 12 is completed by snap-over spring means, ,of which there are preferably two or more for each assembly, in the form of specially contoured leaf springs 22, later described in detail, and L-shaped corner braces or brackets 24, pref- 4 erably in the form of rigid steel stampings, by which each pair of extrusions 16, 18 is rigidly connected at opposite ends of its back extrusion 18 to adjacent miter abutting extrusion pairs. The braces 24 are assembled in a novel manner to the abutting extrusions 18 by small screws 26, as will also be detailed.

The holder parts 16 and 18 may be extruded of aluminum, magnesium, or any other suitable material (even plastic) which may be efficiently and economically extruded and present an attractive external appearance.

First considering the rear or back extrusion 18 of a unit 12, it may, as in the embodiment of FIGS. 14, be formed to present an inwardly facing, channel-defining flange formation 28 forwardly spaced from the integral rear body 29 proper of the extrusion, and the edges of the backing board or panel 14 are receivable within the channel formations 28. Laterally outwardly and in integral alignment with the flange formation 28, the extrusion 18 carries a further outwardly projecting flange formation 30 of lesser width; and a forwardly extending, integral side wall portion 31 of the extrusion carries an inwardly projecting flange formation 32 in coplanar alignment with the formation 30.

Thus, the formation-s 3t and 32 define longitudinally extending sides of a recess 34 in each extrusion 18, which opens outwardly of its opposite ends. As the extrusion units 12 are being assembled on location, pre-cut and shaped in the desired sizes prior to shipment or trimmed as desired to size on location, the L-shaped corner braces 24 are slipped into the ends of the recesses of adjacent units, with the latter into tight mitered engagement. The screws 26 have laterally enlarged heads, and the positions of their threaded engagement in the braces 24 (on both legs of the L) are such that the screw heads overlie flange formation 30 of recess 34. With the screws 26 tightly taken up on each brace leg, the L-braces or brackets are drawn tightly upwardly or outwardly against the flange formations 30 and 32. In this manner the mating back extrusions 18 are drawn into precise coplanar relation to one another, and it follows that the extrusion pairs or units 12 are also in accurately aligned coplanar engagement with one another, whether the corner assembly is made before or after the front or cover extrusions 16 are assembled in place on the respective extrusions 18. Needless to say, the front extrusions 16 may be ribbed or otherwise ornamentally decorated, as at 36, along the length thereof, and the holder 10, as assembled per FIG. 1, presents a very attractive and pleasing external appearance, indeed.

It is to be understood that the outer or front extrusion 16 is slidably assembled to the back extrusion 18, in the longitudinal direction of the unit or assembly 12 (by hinge provisions to be described) prior to the association of the leaf springs 22 with the extrusions, although this may be done before or after the four units 12 are assembled to one another, inasmuch as when extrusion 16 is swung to the open position of FIGS. 2 and 4 there is suflicient exposure at the extrusion ends to permit the slidable connection. In any event, the springs 22 are applied only after the extruded parts have been properly articulated or mated at their hinge means, since one of the functions of the spring is to frictionally hold the parts in their final pivoted relationship, as will now be described.

\Referring particularly to FIGS. 3 and 4, the wall formation 31 of back extrusion 18 is formed to provide an inwardly projecting, horizontal shelf formation 38 of substantial width and an upwardly projecting, inwardly arouate projection 39, which is to serve as a locating abutment on extrusion 18 for spring 22. Finally, an almost completely cylindrical hinge or pivot pintle formation 40 extends outwardly from extrusion wall 31, being integrally connected to the latter by a bridge element 41 of slight width. Hinge member 40 is coextensive in length with back extrusion 18, however long the latter may be.

In reference to the front or cover extrusion 16, its various novel provisions have coaction with hinge formation 40, both in pivoting member 16 on member 18 for a limited outward swing under spring bias, and for coaction with the spring 22 in the application of the latter to the holder extrusions and subsequent snap-over control thereof.

Thus, again referring particularly to FIGS. 3 and 4 in conjunction with FIG. 2, extrusion 16 is formed to provide, on a rearwardly or inwardly extending, continuous side wall portion 42 thereof, an integral pivot or hinge formation 43vof substantially the same, quasi-cylindrical inner diameter as the OD. of pintle formation 40. As slidably mounted operatively on the latter, the edges of front extrusion hinge formation 43 extend substantially more than 180 about the formation 4t), thus requiring the sliding association of the parts, but at the same time permitting the desired arcuate swing of the front extrusion between the fully closed and open positions of FIGS. 3 and 4, respectively. In any event the spring acts in a manner tending to maintain a snug mating pivotal engagement of parts 16 and 18. The lower and inner edge 44 of formation 43 serves (FIG. 4) to engage the connecting bridge 41 of extrusion 18 as a stop, thus to limit the outward swing of part 16. The opposite edge of formation 43 may also engage bridge 41 as a stop, if desired, although the swing of extrusion 16 in the inward and downward direction will normally be stopped by the backing board 14 or equivalent surface.

Extrusion 16 further comprises an integral, attractively curved outer or front panel 45 having a lip extension at 46 by which extrusion 16 may be grasped in manipulation; and there also projects inwardly and rearwardly from the panel 45, adjacent and behind the extension 46, an integral clamp rib 47. This rib is releasably engageable with the backing board 14 and a poster or the like resting against the latter, or otherwise rearwardly sustained, in the manner indicated in FIG. 3; and rib 47 is provided, intermediate its edge and connection to panel 45, with a small, outwardly and upwardly arcuate lip formation 48, within which a free edge of the spring 22 is to be engaged (FIG. 3) to complete the assembly of extrusions 16 and 18. All of the extruded formations of front cover part 16 are coextensive with the latter, and with the holder unit of which the latter is a component.

In regard to the leaf spring 22, it is of a good grade spring steel, and has a leaf body portion 50 of mild curvature adapted to be flexed from a relaxed or free condition (dot-dash line in FIG. 4) to the more sharply bowed are shown in FIG. 3. The edge of spring 22 which extends inwardly of extrusion panel 45 is, as indicated above, finally engaged in hook formation 48, and the spring is formed adjacent its opposite margin to provide its characteristic S-outline at 51. As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, taken in conjunction with FIG. 2, the spring leaf body 50 is of a limited width consistent with desired cantilever snap action, and the S51 is bent substantially cylindrical at 52 to provide a substantially closed bight of the full width of spring 52, the bight being adapted to be abuttingly against the projecting formation 39 of back extrusion 18. The opposite spring margin is rectilinear.

Continuing outwardly from the bight 52, the S formation 51 curved in a re-entrant outline at 53 to form an outwardly opening, approximately U-shaped further bight of sufficient mouth width to be swingable freely about the projection 39, from the position of FIG. 3 to that of FIG. 4, and vice versa. For stability of abutting engagement with extrusion 18, the relatively closed bight 52 is of full spring width but, for a reason of possible manufacturing advantage, the other bight '53 is of lesser width and centered between the side edges of the spring, as illustrated in FIG. 2.

In the pre-assembly of holder extrusions 16, 18 the rounded hinge formation 43 is slidably telescoped onto the hingle pintle formation 40 of the part 18 from an end thereof, bringing the extrusions in end-to-end lateral register with one another. So associated, and with outer ex trusion 16 fully swung to open position, as limited by its stop edge 44, the bight 52 of spring 50 is located against formation 39 of extrusion 18, with the spring body portion 50 extending upwardly past the hook-like lip 48 on extrusion rib 47, as depicted in dot-dash line in FIG. 4. Spring 22 is then flexed by the thumb to spring past the lip 48 into engagement with rib 47 (dotted line in FIG. 4), then allowed to return flexibly to the final, solid line position of FIG. 4.

As so engaged, the cantilever acting leaf spring 22 exercises sufficient friction against front extrusion 16 to resist longitudinal shift of back extension 18 at the hinge components; and the spring exerts snap inward and outward over-center force to stably retain the swinging extrusion in either its closed or open position of FIGS. 3 and 4. In either position the spring urges the front extrusion in a direction to maintain its integral concave hinge formation 43 snugly against the integral convex formation 40 of the back extrusion, thus eliminating the need for further special means such as a hinge pin to connect the spring to an extrusion, or a backing panel, etc., as mentioned above.

Mention has been made of the fact that the back extrusion of the holder may or may not be formed to include a back board mounting flange formation 28; and FIG. 4A shows a slightly modified embodiment in which the last named formation is omitted. Since the embodient of FIG. 4A differs only from that of FIGS. 1 through 4 in the fact that the channel to receive the backing board 14 is absent, corresponding parts are designated by corresponding reference numerals. In this case, the bottom panel 2? of extrusion 18 is raised to a level such that the rib 47 of top extrusion 16 may engage directly downwardly thereon to clamp a display piece in place, the panel portion 49 being of sufficient inward width for this purpose. In other respects, the structure of FIG. 4A, including the channel 34 to receive corner piece 24, is identical to the earlier embodiment.

In a further modified embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5, the direct support for the poster or equivalent sheet, designated P, is afforded by the surface of a wall 20' or the like to which the holder, generally denoted 55, is fixedly applied. In the alternative, the support may be directly afforded by a rigid backing board, similar in nature to the back panel 14 of the first embodiment, to which extrusion18 is secured, as by screws 19. Parts corresponding to those illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 are designated by corresponding reference numerals, primed, and further description will be dispensed with.

Thus, reference being had to FIG. 5, the back extrusion 18' is formed to provide a foot flange 56 coextensive in length therewith to mount on the support 20' or its equivalent and, in effect, eliminate the channel which receives backing board 14, as well as the recess 34 of the first embodiment which receives the corner braces 24. Accordingly, the foot flange 36 is substantially in the plane of engagement of the front extrusion rib 47' with the poster P or equivalent sheet or panel; and the assembly of the extrusions 18 in fixed mitered corner engagement with one another will be solely at and through the flanges 56.

FIG. 6 of the drawing shows a further variation of the invention, in which the back extrusions, specially designated 58, are in the form of clips of limited length, being otherwise of the cross sectional contour shown in FIG. 5, hence correspondingly numbered. It is of course to be understood that individual extrusions or clips 58, employed at least two on each side of the holder, may also be substituted for the extrusions which receive a backing board, i.e., of the cross section shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4.

Reference has been made to various particular details of design, such as, for example, that the hinge formation 43 of top extrusion 16 extends more than about the mating formation 40 of extrusion 18. This provides a laterally restricted opening of the formation 43, requiring a sliding interfit of the two hinge parts. However, it is contemplated that the formation 43 may be more widely open, enabling a non-sliding interfit of the parts. An abutting and swingable interfit of the S-shaped marginal portion 51 of spring 22 has also r en iescribed, but variations of such will occur to those smiled in the art, and are accordingly contemplated by the invention to the extent not specifically set forth in the appended claims.

To summarize, the display holder of the invention is constituted of a minimum of simpleparts which may be factory-shaped and shipped in knocked-down condition to destination. Integral formations of only two constituent metal extrusions coact with one another and with simple leaf cantilever springs in a novel manner to pivotally articulate the extrusions, without resort to separate pin and associated hinge means; and to effectively impart a snap-over force to the front extrusion for its swing between open and closed positions, while at the same time permitting a simple and easy assembly of the parts to one another on location. As finally assembled, the holder presents a very attractively finished appearance.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A display or like holder, comprising a pair of front and back parts adapted to be assembled in pivotal relationship to one another in defining a polygonal frame structure to receive a display piece, said parts being provided with coacting hinge formations integral respectively therewith and in mating pivotal engagement with one another, and a spring extending between said front and back parts to bias the former between a closed position in clamping engagement with the display piece and an open position to removably receive said piece, said front part substantially wholly covering the back part forwardly of said piece in said closed position.

2. A display or like holder, comprising a pair of front and back parts adapted to be assembled in pivotal relationship to one another in defining a polygonal frame structure to receive a display piece, said parts being provided with coacting hinge formations integral respectively therewith and in mating pivotal engagement with one another, and a spring extending bet-ween said front and back parts to bias the former with a cantilever snap-over action bet-ween a closed position in clamping engagement with the display piece and an open position to removably receive said piece, said front part substantially wholly covering the back part forwardly of said piece in said closed position, said back part having a formation engageable directly by the spring adjacent an inner end of the latter, said front part having a formation with which the outer end of the spring has direct engagement.

3. A display or like holder, comprising pairs of front and back parts adapted to be assembled in pivotal relationship to one another in defining a polygonal frame structure to receive a display piece, said parts being extrusions having coacting hinge formations integral respectively therewith and in mating pivotal engagement with one another, and a leaf spring extending between said front and back parts to bias the former with a cantilever snap-over action between a closed position in clamping engagement with the display piece and an open position to removably receive said piece, said front part substantially wholly covering the back part forwardly of said piece in said closed position, said back part having a projecting formation adjacent its hinge formation engageable directly by the spring adjacent an inner end of the latter, said front part having a projecting formation with which the outer end of the spring has direct engagement.

4. A display or like holder, comprising pairs of front and back parts adapted to be assembled in pivotal relationship to one another in defining a polygonal frame structure to receive a display piece, said parts being extrusions having coacting hinge formations integral respectively therewith and in mating pivotal engagement with one another, and a leaf spring extending between said front and back parts to bias the former with a cant-ilever snap-over action between a closed position in clamping engagement with the display piece and an open position to removably receive said piece, said front part substantially wholly covering the back part forwardly of said piece in said closed position, said spring being of elongated S-shape in transverse cross-section, said back part having a projecting formation adjacent its hinge formation swingably engageable directly by a bight of the spring adjacent an inner end of the latter, said front part having a projecting formation with which the outer end of the spring has direct transverse snap engagement, thus to fixedly hold the spring in operative engagement between said parts.

5. A display or like holder, comprising a pair of front and back parts adapted to be assembled in pivotal relationship to one another to removably receive edges of a display piece, said parts having coacting rounded hinge formations shaped for mating engagement with one another, said back part having channel means including a formation facing inwardly of the back part to receive the edge of a backing panel, and a spring extending directly between said respective front and back parts to bias the former between a closed position in clamping engagement with the display piece and an open position to removably receive said piece.

a. A display or like holder, comprising a pair of front and back parts adapted to be assembled in pivotal relationship to one another to removably receive edges of a display piece, said parts having coacting rounded hinge formations shaped for mating engagement with one another, said back part having channel means including a channel formation adapted to receive a connecting corner piece, and a spring extending directly between said respective front and back parts to bias the former with a cantilever snap-over action between a closed position in clamping engagement with the display piece and an open posit-ion to removably receive said piece.

'7. A display or like holder, comprising pairs of front and back parts adapted to be assembled in pivotal relationship to one another to removably receive edges of a display piece, said parts of each pair having coacting rounded hinge formations shaped for mating engagement with one another, said back part having channel means including a formation facing inwardly of the back part to receive the edge of a backing panel and a channel formation adapted to receive a connecting corner piece to lock adjacent back parts to one another in a common plane, and a leaf spring extending directly between said respective front and back parts to bias the former with a cantilever snap-over action between a closed position in clamping engagement with the display piece and an open position to removably receive said piece.

8. A display or like holder, comprising pairs of front and back parts adapted to be assembled in pivotal relationship to one another to removably receive edges of a display piece, said parts of each pair having integral coacting rounded and laterally interlocked hinge formations at extremities thereof, which formation are shaped convexly and concavely, respectively, for mating engagement with one another, and a spring extending directly between said respective front and back parts to bias the former between a closed position in clamping engagement with the display piece and an open position to removably receive said piece, said spring also biasing said parts in a manner tending to maintain a snug mating engagement with one another.

9. A display or like holder, comprising pairs of front and back parts adapted to be assembled in pivotal relationship to one another to removably receive edges of a display piece, said parts of each pair having integral coacting rounded and laterally interlocked hinge formations shaped convexly and concavely, respectively, for mating engagement with one another, said back part having channel means including a formation facin inwardly of the back part to receive the edge of a backing panel, and a spring extending directly between said respective front and back parts to bias the former between a closed position in clamping engagement with the display piece and an open position to removably receive said piece, said spring also biasing said parts in a manner tending to maintain a snug mating egagement with one another.

10. A display or like holder, comprising pairs of front and back parts adapted to be assembled in pivotal relationship to one another to removably receive edges of a display piece, said parts of each pair having integral coacting rounded and laterally interlocked hinge formations at extremities thereof, which formations are shaped convexly and concavely, respectively, for mating engagement with one another, said back part having channel means including a formation facing inwardly of the back part to receive the edge of a backing panel and a channel formation adapted to receive a connecting corner piece to lock adjacent back parts to one another in a common plane, and a leaf spring extending directly between said respective front and back parts to bias the former with a cantilever snap-over action between a closed position in clamping engagement with the display piece and an open position to removably receive said piece, said spring also biasing said parts in a manner tending to maintain a snug mating engagement with one another.

11. A display or like holder, comprising pairs of front and back parts adapted to be assembled in pivotal relationship to one another, and to be rigidly connected together at corners of the pairs, to receive a display piece, said parts having integral coacting hinge formations sha ed convexly and concavely, respectively, for mating engagement with one another, and a leaf spring extending directly between each of said front and back parts to bias the former between closed and open positions, said spring being elongated in transverse cross section, each back part having a formation abuttingly engageable by the spring adjacent a spring edge, each front part having a formation with which the opposite edge of the spring has transverse engagement, said spring acting against said formations at said edges of the spring in a manner tending to maintain a snug engagement of the hinge formations with one another.

12. A display or like holder, comprising pairs of front and back parts adapted to be assembled in pivotal relationship to one another, and to be rigidly connected together at corners of the pairs, to receive a display piece, said parts having integral coacting hinge formations shaped convexly and concavely, respectively, for mating engagement with one another, and a leaf spring extending directly between each of said front and back parts to bias the former between closed and open positions, said spring being elongated in transverse cross section and having a generally S-shape adjacent a longitudinal edge thereof, each back part having a formation abuttingly engageable by one bight of the spring adjacent said spring edge, about which back part formation the other bight of the spring swings in action, each front part having a formation with which the opposite edge of the spring has transverse snap engagement, said spring acting against said formations at said one bight and at said opposite edge of the spring in a manner tending to maintain a snug mating engagement of the hinge formations with one another.

13. A display or like holder, comprising pairs of front and back parts adapted to be assembled in pivotal relationship to one another, and to be rigidly connected to gether at corners of the pairs, to receive a display piece, said parts being extrusions having integral coacting rounded and laterally interlocked hinge formations shaped convexly and concavely, respectively, for mating engagement with one another, and a leaf spring extending directly between each of said front and back parts to bias the former between closed and open positions, said spring being elongated in transverse cross section, each back part having a formation abuttingly engageable by the spring adjacent a spring edge, each front part having a formation with Which the opposite edge of the spring has transverse engagement, thus to fixedly hold the spring in operative engagement between said parts and to frictionally hold said parts in slidable assembly with one another, said spring acting against said formations at said edges of the spring in a manner tending to maintain a snug engagement of the hinge formations with one another.

14. A display or like holder, comprising pairs of front and back parts adapted to be assembled in pivotal relationship to one another, and to be rigidly connected together at corners of the pairs, to receive a display piece, said parts being extrusions having integral coacting rounded and laterally interlocked hinge formations shaped for mating engagement with one another only, and a leaf spring extending directly between each of said front and back parts to bias the former between closed and open positions, said spring being elongated in transverse cross section and having a generally S-shape adjacent a longitudinal edge thereof, each back part having a formation abuttingly engageable by one bight of the spring adjacent said spring edge, about which back part formation the other bight of the spring swings in action, each front part having a formation with which the opposite edge of the spring has transverse snap engagement, thus to fixedly hold the spring in operative engagement between said parts and to frictionally hold said parts in slidable assembly with one another, said spring acting against said formations at said one bight and at said opposite edge of the spring in a manner tending to maintain a snug mating engagement of the hinge formations with one another.

15. A frame unit or assembly for a display or like holder, comprising a first extrusion provided with an integral rounded and outwardly projecting hinge formation along an outer side thereof, and an integral abutment formation; a second extrusion coextensive in length with said assembly and formed to provide a rounded hinge formation to engage the hinge formation of said first extrusion, and an integral abutment formation in parallel and laterally spaced relation to said laterally open hinge formation; and a leaf spring engageable between said abutment formations of the extrusions to control relative swing thereof and frictionally hold the extrusions in assembled relation to one another.

16. An assembly in accordance with claim 15, in which said first extrusion is coextensive in length with the assembly.

17. An assembly in accordance with claim 15, in which said first extrusion is shorter in length than the assembly.

18. A holder to receive a display or like piece, comprising front and back parts assembled in pivotal relationship to one another to define a side of a polygonal frame structure to receive said piece, and means for articulating said parts in pivotal engagement with one another without need for recourse to further articulating means, comprising a first formation integral with one of said parts, a second formation integral with the other part, said parts having said pivotal engagement at said formations, and at least one spring extending between said front and back parts to bias the former for clamping engagement with the display piece, said spring acting to urge the parts transversely relative to one another in a manner tending to maintain their pivotal engagement.

19. A holder to receive a display or like piece, comprising front and back parts assembled in pivotal relationship to one another to define a side of a polygonal frame structure to receive said piece, and means for articulating said parts in mating pivotal engagement with one another without need for recourse to further articulating means, comprising a first concavely rounded formation integral with one of said parts, a second convexly rounded formation integral with the other part, said parts having said pivotal engagement at said formations, and at least one spring extending between said front and back parts to bias the former between a close position in clamping engagement with the display piece and an open position to receive said piece, said spring acting to exert frictional force on said parts to resist relative longitudinal shift thereof along their pivotal axis and also to urge the parts transversely relative to one another in a manner tending to maintain their mating pivotal engagement.

20. The holder of claim 18, in which said-spring is a leaf type exerting an over-center cantilever action on said front part to provide a snap-over motion of the latter toward both said closed position and said open position, said back part having a formation directly engageable by the spring adjacent one end of the latter, said front part having a formation with which the other end of the spring has direct engagement.

21. The holder of claim 19, in which said spring is a leaf type exerting an over-center cantilever action on said front part to provide a snap-over motion of the latter toward both said closed position and said open position, said back part having a formation directly engageable by the spring adjacent one end of the latter, said front part having a formation with which the other end of the spring has direct engagement.

4/1959 Howell 40156 9/1965 Gawne 40l56 EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner.

W. I. CONTRERAS, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A DISPLAY OR LIKE HOLDER, COMPRISING A PAIR OF FRONT AND BACK PARTS ADAPTED TO BE ASSEMBLED IN PIVOTAL RELATIONSHIP TO ONE ANOTHER IN DEFINING A POLYGONAL FRAME STRUCTURE TO RECEIVE A DISPLAY PIECE, SAID PARTS BEING PROVIDED WITH COACTING HINGE FORMATIONS INTEGRAL RESPECTIVELY THEREWITH AND IN MATING PIVOTAL ENGAGEMENT WITH ONE ANOTHER, AND A SPRING EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID FRONT AND BACK PARTS TO BIAS THE FORMER BETWEEN A CLOSED POSITION IN CLAMPING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE DISPLAY PIECE AND AN OPEN POSITION TO REMOVABLY RECEIVE SAID PIECE, SAID FRONT PART SUBSTANTIALLY WHOLLY COVERING THE BACK PART FORWARDLY OF SAID PIECE IN SAID CLOSED POSITION. 